Is Prince William a Knight?
As second in line to the British throne, Prince William is considered one of the most important members of the royal family — and he has an official royal title to match. But, on top of being a prince and duke, is Prince William a knight? Up ahead, we dive deeper into Prince William’s royal titles.
Is Prince William a knight?
Becoming a knight is a big deal in the royal family. Not only does it entail ceremonious recognition from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, but it also comes with a royal title. And, while it is common for the palace to knight outstanding British citizens for their contributions to society, we don’t hear about members of the royal family’s own knighthoods.
Is Prince William a knight? As it turns out, he is. In Scotland, Prince William is a Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. And, in England, he is a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
What is the Order of the Garter?
The Order of the Garter was established by King Edward III in 1348 and is considered the most prominent and exclusive British order of chivalry. Space is limited in the Order of the Garter as it has a capacity of only the monarch, the Prince of Wales (Prince Charles) and 24 members (aka companions). St. George is the order’s patron saint and new members are appointed by Her Majesty on St. George’s Day.
What is the Order of the Thistle?
The Order of the Thistle is Scotland’s order of chivalry. The truth about its beginnings are somewhat unknown, but rumor has it, the order could date back as far as 809 or earlier. However, most consider the founding date 1687 when King James VII of Scotland declared its revival. As far as importance is concerned, the Order of the Thistle is the equivalent to the Order of the Garter.
Can Prince William knight someone?
In the royal family, knighting duties typically fall under Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles’s royal job description. However, as he prepares to take over his father’s position of Prince of Wales and one day become king, Prince William can knight someone and has practiced the honor a few times.
The first time Prince William knighted someone was back in 2013. Dressed in his Royal Air Force uniform, the Duke of Cambridge bestowed knighthood on several individuals and honored others with metals and other recognitions.
Once Prince William becomes Prince of Wales and then King of England, knighting ceremonies will be a regular part of his royal duties.
Prince William’s royal titles
In addition to being a knight of the Order of the Garter and Order of the Thistle, Prince William has a few other official titles. In England and across the work, he goes by the Duke of Cambridge. However, when he is in Scotland for official engagements, he is the Earl of Strathearn. And, while in Northern Ireland, he goes by Baron Carrickfergus.
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